Bottle closure with cork



Sept. 26, 1961 c. A. SCHULTZ BOTTLE CLOSURE WITH CORK Filed Oct. 16, 1959 ESE.

CHARLES A SCHULTZ INVENTOR BY K RL mans ATTORNEY United States Patent York Filed Oct. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 846,860 Claims. (Cl. 215--48) The present invention relates to a bottle closure, and more particularly to such a closure having a cork insert in the plastic stopper thereof and a unique decorative sleeve.

Champagne and other wines have traditionally been bottled in bottles having cork closures or stoppers. These stoppers have been held in place, against dislodgment by accident or by the pressure within the bottle by a wire structure that engages over the cork stopper and the neck of the bottle.

In more recent years, attention has been given to the utilization of bottle closures for such products, which closures comprise a plastic stopper. An example of such a closure is disclosed and claimed in the application of Charles A. Schultz, for Bottle Closure, Serial No. 774,193, filed November 17, 1958, now United States Letters Patent No. 2,940,628. The present application is a continuation-in-part of said application.

Such closures, including a plastic stopper, have been found to cause the product bottled and stopped by these closures to have a taste somewhat different from the taste of products traditionally bottled, i.e., with cork stoppers. After careful deliberation, it has been found that the plastic stoppers have seemingly altered the taste for the very reason that they have not added to the taste of the beverage. Otherwise stated, the closures having a plastic stopper in engagement with the beverage have not added to the beverage a slight cork taste that is discernible to many people. This discovery has led to the present invention, as will be understood.

These plastic stoppers, where hollow, did not always give sufiicient compression to the gases in the bottle and, as a result, the gases did not satisfactorily aid in the dislodgment of the closure from the bottle when the securing means was released.

Although prior art closures are known in which a natural-cork plug is inserted into one end of a stopper, these plugs were cemented to the main stopper body, the natural-cork plug completely filling a hollow or recess in the main stopper body. As will be understood, the uitlization of cement in the assembling of a bottle closure for beverages is highly undesirable due to the imparting of an undesirable taste to the beverage by the cement. In addition, the construction of such prior art stoppers did not permit the saturation of the naturalcark plug, in its entirety, and thus did not provide a construction in which uniform seating of the naturalcork plug, in its entirety, and thus did not provide a uniform manner in production of a large number of such closures.

The cork stoppers mentioned above, with the wire hook-like structure thereover to retain cork stopper against expulsion by the gases within the bottle were unsightly. To make the champagne bottle closure more attractive, the entire top of the closed and filled champagne bottle is covered with an esthetic metal foil. This foil is usually quite expensive to acquire and to apply, but has been found necessary in order to present the champagne in a suitably attractive dress. Even though the metal foil hood is attractive, it has in the past borne no relationship to the contents of the particular bottle on which it has been placed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ice closure having a plastic stopper with a taste-giving cork insert.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a closure having a plastic stopper and a cork insert secured to the plastic stopper without the use of cement.

Yet another object of'the present invention is to provide a closure for a bottle, the closure having a plastic stopper and imparting to the beverage in the bottle only the desired taste.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a closure for a bottle, which closure comprises a plastic stopper and a cork insert that will expand throughout its mass to uniformly tighten the plastic stopper in the bottle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bottle closure having a plastic stopper and a cork insert, which cork insert may be properly seated in the plastic stopper during high volume production of the closure.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a bottle closure comprising a plastic stopper and a cork insert, which closure is easily removed from the bottle upon movement of the closure securing means out of securing position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bottle closure having a plastic stopper and a cork insert therefor, which cork insert is easily inserted into the stopper.

Yet another object of the present invention is to the provision of a bottle closure having a plastic stopper with a cork insert that may not accidentally be removed from the stopper.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a champagne or like bottle with a plastic stopper and which will be attractive to the eye.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a bottle closure and dress that will indicate the particular beverage the bottle.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of. a closure in accordance with the present invention inserted into the neck of a bottle, the bottle and closure having a contents indicating sleeve thereon.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partially broken away and in section, of a part of a closure forming another embodiment of the present invention.

1G. 3 is an elevational view of a cork member for insertion into the embodiment of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, with parts in section, of a fully assembled closure in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 the neck 10of a bottle having the closure 20 of the present invention inserted thereinto and secured thereto. Closure 20 comprises a stopper 21 made of polyethylene.

Stopper 21 has an externally ribbed, hollow axial extension 22 defining a chamber 23. At the level of the upper end of chamber 23 there extends from the exterior of stopper 21 an outstanding annular flange 24, flange 24 defining the upper end of extension 22.

Above the level of flange 24 a relatively thick-walled hollow crown 26 may be seen. Crown 26, which is polygonal, has therein a second chamber 27, chamber 27 being of smaller diameter than the chamber 23, and coaxial therewith.

Chambers 23- and 27 are in open communication with each other and the stopper 21 defines, between the chambers 23 and 27, a shoulder 28. It is interiorly of shoulder 28 that the chambers 23 and .27 communicate with each other.

Cork member 30 is positioned in the first chamber 23 and occupies substantially the entire space of the chamber 23. The length of cork 30, which is natural-cork, is the same as the length of chamber 23 and the diameter of cork member 30 is substantially the same as the diameter of chamber 23 so that there is substantial surface engagement and contact between the plastic stopper 21.

and the cork member 30.

A known securing member 40 is positioned on the annular flange 24, securing member 40 comprising a metal cap having a top 41 having a central hole 42 therein. It is through the hole 42 that the crown '26 extends. The securing member 4t also comprises a peripheral side wall 43 which is furcated, the furcations being curled as shown at 45. A fastening wire 46 extends through the curled parts 45 and is held thereby, and a lever '(not shown) is pivotally attached to the ends of the wire 46 and may be rotated so as to cause the wire 46 to expand or contract and to thereby release or hold the securing member it) onto the neck 10.

A head 50, having a polygonal axial passage 51 and teeth 52, is secured to the corresponding polygonal crown 26 of stopper 21 by the said teeth 52 and thus serves to hold the securing member 40 onto the stopper 21.

When the closures 20, as above described, are assembled the cork member 39 is inserted into the chamber 23 until it is blocked or stopped by the shoulder 28.

' This action will cause the entrapment of air in chamber 27, and it will be understood that this air has the characteristics of the atmosphere in which the assembly of the closures 20 is being performed. This air will he, therefore, relatively dry and because of the imperviousness of the plastic stopper 21 and the entrapment thereof behind the cork member 30, will tend to remain at that state of moisture content during its storage.

When the closure 20 is assembled onto a filled bottle, the atmosphere within the bottle above the liquid therein will quickly become saturated and the moisture from this atmosphere, or the liquid in the bottle, depending upon the position of the bottle, will contact cork member 30. In either event, because the atmosphere in chamber 27 is relatively :drier, the moisture will tend to rapidly penetrate through the cork member 30 in order to establish an equilibrium condition within the system. Thus, chamber 27 acts as a moisture sink and draws the moisture completely through the cork member 30, thus insuring the complete penetration of cork member 30 by the molecules of liquid. 7 i

As a result of the complete penetration of the moisture and/or liquid into and throughout the cork member 30, the cork member 30 will quickly and uniformly tend to expand, thus forcing the sides of extension 22 of plastic stopper '21 against the walls of the interior of bottle neck 10. As a result, the cork member 30 will be held firmly within the plastic stopper 21, without danger of loosening thereof and without the necessity of cementing the cork member 30 to the plastic stopper 21. Of course, the cork member 30 will also add the desirable cork taste to the beverage in the bottle.

In order to give a pleasing appearance to the entire beverage package and to provide an indication of the contents of the individual bottles, closure 20 is provided with a coloration. In particular, it has been found that polyethylene, of which the stopper 21 is made, may not be colored without harmful effects on the bottled beverage. On the other hand, polystyrene may be readily colored, and it is the head 50, which is of polystyrene, which is colored to' indicate the contents Of the w t Thus, the head 50 may be colored red to indicate that the bottle to which it is applied contains wine in general or burgundy in particular, especially sparkling burgundy. Other color indications may be white for champagne and pink for pink champagne.

To complete the dress of the bottle, a sleeve 55 is provided, which sleeve has its upper end approximately at the largest diameter of the outwardly bulging head 50 and extends downwardly, concealing the securing member 4i), and terminating on the neck 10 of the bottle. The sleeve 55 is of the same color as the head 50, and the appearance provided by the head 50 and sleeve 55 is uniform color and of regular configuration.

It will be seen that the construction shown in FIG. 1 provides a closure that will impart a cork taste to the beverage in the bottle, that will form a tight seal with the interior of the bottle neck 10 because of the rapid and uniform expansion of the cork member 30 and will have the further advantage that the air space within the bottle and closure part will be reduced, to thereby reduce the liability of refermentation and oxidation of the bottle contents, and to aid in dislodgment of the closure.

Because the cork member 30 is completely saturated, it will seat uniformly within the extension 22 of plastic stopper 21 and will do so even when high production of the closures 20 is provided.

The construction shown in FIG. 1 also provides a closure which may have the visible part thereof colored to indicate the contents, and which closure will not harm the contents due to the fact that the parts engageable by the closure are not colored. Further, the construction provides a pleasing appearance due to the sleeve applied to the closure and .bottle neck.

in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, there is shown a construction that is particularly adapted for use in bottling champagne and other efiervescent beverages, these beverages being bottled while chilled. When such beverages are bottled, the closures for the bottle are also chilled, and as will be understood, the air within the chamber 27 will also be chilled. Since this air will expand when the bottle, filled and closed, is permitted to reach room temperature, and since this expansion will cause a pressure tending to eject the cork member, the plastic stopper 61 will have on the inner side of the axial extension 62 thereof a head 64.

The compression rings 69 on the exterior of axial extension 62 are inclined, in order to effect the easy removal of the closure shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 upon release of the securing member 40 in known fashion.

Referring to FIG. 3, it may be seen that the cork member 35 is generally similar to cork member 30, but has a tapered end 36 to assist in the introduction of cork member 35 into the chamber 63 in stopper 61 and past the bead 64.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there may be seen in partial cross-sectional elevation the completed closure 60 comprising the plastic stopper 61 with the external inclined compression rings 69 as well as the chamber 63' in which is lodged the cork member 35. The cork member 35 has been inserted into the'chamber 63 making use of the tapered end 36 of member 35, the lower end of axial extension 62 yielding somewhat to permit the cork member 35 to pass by the head 64. 7 Once cork member 35 has attained its position with the tapered end 36 thereof against the stop shoulder 68 the lower end of axial extension 62 will return to its original dimension and thus the bead 64 will close behind the cork member 35 to re tain it therein.

As a consequence, should pressure build up in the chamber 67 there will be no danger of the cork 35 being expelled, due to the holding action of head 64.

Of course, the chamber 67 will function in the same manner as chamber 27, as described above, and there will result a rapid and even expansion of cork member 35 to insure a tight fit of the plastic stopper 61 within the neck of a bottle.

There have been provided closure members for adding to the taste of champagne and like beverages a desirable cork taste, without any danger of adding to the beverage an undesirable taste such as from cement. The closure of the present invention has a cork insert that will quickly expand to tighten the stopper in the neck of a bottle, the expansion being due to a unique moisture sink. Because of the complete saturation of the cork member of the closure of the present invention, it will be properly seated in the plastic stopper making up a part of the present closure, the seating also being due to the construction of the parts of the closure.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the entire closure member is readily removed upon unloosening of the securing means forming a part of the closure and this embodiment also provides for easy insertion of a cork member, and without danger of expulsion of the cork member during its use.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure for the neck of a bottle comprising a stopper having an externally ribbed, hollow axial extension defining a first chamber, an outstanding annular flange at the upper end of said extension, at relatively thick-walled, hollow crown above said flange, said hollow crown being of lesser internal diameter than said axial extension, said crown defining a second chamber coaxial with said first chamber and of less diameter than said first chamber to thereby provide a shoulder, said first and second chambers communicating with each other at said shoulder, a cork member in said first chamber and substantially occupying said first chamber, said shoulder defining a stop for said cork member, a securing member on said stopper for securing said stopper to a bottle, and

a head secured to the exterior of said crown securing said member on said stopper, whereby upon insertion of said closure into the neck of a bottle the saturated atmosphere in said bottle will cause moisture to penetrate said cork member towards the drier atmosphere in said second chamber to thereby uniformly saturate and expand said cork member.

2. The closure of claim 1, said ribs being inclined.

3. A closure for the neck of a bottle comprising a stopper having a hollow axial extension defining a first chamber, an outstanding annular flange at the upper end of said extension, a hollow crown above said flange defining a second chamber coaxial with said first chamher, said first and second chambers communicating with each other, stop means between said chambers, a cork member in said first chamber and substantially occupying said first chamber, said cork member abutting said stop means, a securing member on said stopper for securing said stopper to a bottle, and a head secured to the exterior of said crown securing said member on said stopper, whereby upon insertion of said closure into the neck of a bottle the saturated atmosphere in said bottle will cause moisture to penetrate said cork member towards the drier atmosphere in said second chamber to thereby uniformly saturate and expand said cork memher.

4. The structure of claim 3; said axial extension including external ribs.

5. The structure of claim 3; said axial extension including an inwardly extending flange portion at the lower end for retaining said cork member in said first chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 68,201 France Oct. 28, 1957 (Addition to 1,123,043)

536,982 Belgium Apr. 15, 1955 1,093,500 France Nov. 24, 1954 1,123,043 France June 4, 1956 

